The Rocky Horror Show Review by Nina Jervis-Green

January 14, 2025

Thanks to Nina Jervis-Green from www.ninathewriter.com for this review.

“I’ve never had any idea what it’s all about, but it’s such a fun show!” That quote, part of a snatched conversation I overheard between a middle-aged couple in glittery wigs, seems to sum up The Rocky Horror Show as well as anything else.

How would I describe it? Part Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, part Frankenstein, part Carry On Screaming, this is the craziest, most riotous show I’ve ever seen. That, of course, is exactly why it’s so popular.

Popular it absolutely is. On this bitterly cold Monday evening in January, the Cliffs was at near-capacity with people – many sporting flamboyant costumes – warming up their vocal chords and preparing their props for the spectacle to come. “Tell us a story!” a man shouted out gleefully, as the Narrator (played by the whip-smart comedian Nathan Caton, with cheeky wit and an eclectic array of hats) strode onto the stage. And we were off.

Said story, written by Richard O’Brien in homage to 1950s sci-fi and horror B-movies, involves a virginal, straight-laced young couple called Brad and Janet. They get stranded at a creepy castle, where they meet a mad-scientist alien called Frank N Furter. He wears fishnets and corsets, and is in the business of creating sexy minions to keep him entertained. That’s about it.

The wafer-thin plot doesn’t matter a jot: at least, not to the hordes of dedicated fans, many of whom have faithfully returned to this show for decades after its 1973 debut. The fizzing, non-stop audience interaction gave this performance a unique energy that felt both immersive and exhilarating – and as a Rocky Horror Show virgin, I was more than happy to go along for the ride!

Of course, the biggest cheers of the night were reserved for Jason Donovan, sultrily reprising the role of Frank N Furter 25 years after he originally performed it. He looks incredible – there’s something gladdening about a man in his 50s commanding a stage in suspenders and full make-up – and he belts out classics like ‘Sweet Transvestite’ as though his life depends on it.

Connor Carson and Lauren Chia are impressive as Brad and Janet, deftly combining the OTT innocence of these roles with racy sparks of humour and fabulous vocals. Job Greuter, who plays O’Brien’s original role of Riff Raff, is a stand-out performer whose jubilant rendition of ‘Time Warp’ is pitch-perfect.

Although Christopher Luscombe’s skilled direction ensures the story moves along at pace – impressive with the amount of utter mayhem involved! – the lack of plot did start to wear a bit thin during the second half. This felt like an over-long journey towards the inevitable, outrageously glitzy, dance-and-sing-along finale.

That said, The Rocky Horror Show is an extremely accomplished production in which everything sparkles… literally. If you’ve never seen it before, it has to be experienced at least once. And if you already know and love this perennial show, you know exactly what you’re getting – a guaranteed party!